Envelop-opener.



No. 673,375. Patented May 7, ISGI. G. G. BAYH.

ENVELOP OPENER.

(Application filed JFeb. 4, 1901.)

(No Model.)

ZM 47m] /7 'NITED STATES GEORGE G. BAYHA, OF NIOBRARA, NEBRASKA.

ENVELOP-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,375, dated May '7,1901.

Application filed Febuary 4, 1901. Serial No. 45,901. (No model.l

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known thatrl, GEORGE G. BAYHA, a citizen of the United States,vresiding at Niobrara, in the county of Knox and State of Ne'- braska,have invented certain new and usefulv improvements in Envelop-Openers;and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as Willenable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to knives or cutting devices; and it consistssubstantially in the improvements hereinafter more particularlydescribed, andf-pointed out in the claims.

The invention is adapted to a great many different uses or' purposes,such as a cutter or trimming device for the edges of textile and otherfabrics', 'including' paper, cardboard, and the like; but the particularuse or purpose for which the same is intended is that of an opener forthe ordinary envelops employed in correspondence through the mails andoth# erwise.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective knifeor cutting device whereby either the longer or shorter edge of anordinary envelop can he cut off or severed from the body thereof withmuch greater facility andalsoin such manner that the contents of theenvelop are left intact, while the envelop itself is not torn orlacerated and the usual marks of identification thereon are notobliterated or mutilated.

A' firther object of the invention is to provide a knife or cuttingdevice of this characf ter which is easily and quickly handled ormanipulated and one also that is exceedingly simple in construction andeconomical to manufacture, besides possessing the qualities oflightness, durability, and strength.

A still further object is to provide a device of this kind comprisingthe least number of parts or elements, which are readily taken tingdevice, the same being taken from the side at which the edge of theenvelop or other article is inserted. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the device, the knife orcutting-blade being shown in elevationand also being shown in the downward position it occupies when pressedupon. Fig. 3is a top or plan view of the device. Fig. 4 is a view of thebottom or under side of the top plate of the device to more clearlyindicate the construction thereof. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional viewof thedevice about on the line :c a: of Fig. 3. Fig. G is aperspectiveview of the removable knife r cutting-blade detached. Fig. 7 is asimilar view of -the removable presser-foot detached. Fig. Sis a View ofthe knife or cutting-blade, taken from the opposite side to that shownin Fig. 6 and showing the double cutting edge of the blade. VYligz is asimilar View to Fig. l, showing the presser? foot dispensed with.

Before proceeding with a more detailed 'description it may be statedthat my improved knife or cutting device comprises a suitable block orhandle,which also constitutes a guide for the edge of the envelop orother article to be operated upon, and working through an elongatedopening or slot in said block or handle isa spring knife orcutting-blade which in the severance of the edges from envelops ofordinary thickness or less is pressed upon by the thumb or linger of theoperator, sol as to be properly held down to its work. The degree ofpressure is entirely proportional to the thickness of the envelop orother article to be cnt, since it will be apparent from the constructionhereinafter specifically described that the thinner the article operatedupon the less will be the normal pressure exerted by the said springknife or cutting-blade. On introducing an euvelopof increased orconsiderable thickness the cutter or knife is necessarily placednndergreater inherent or normal tensiomand hence the severance of theedge of a thick lenvelop or other article does not require the saineamount of extra or thumb pressure as when operating upon a thinnerarticle. The said knife or cutter is preferably removable ordetachableifor the purpose of sharpening and repair thereof, and shouldthe same becoine too much worn. or broken it can be readily replaced atsmall cost. It has a'movement within and across the guiding-aperture forthe envelop or other article, and the construction of the base of saidaperture is such that the point of vthe knife or cutting-blade ispermitted to entirely penetrate the article operated upon with absolutecertainty, thusrcnr' dering the proper working of the device to 'berelied upon at all times. Means are provid'ed for so limiting thedownward movementof the knife as to lalways prevent the point thereoffrom being forced into contact with the bottom of the guiding-aperture,which, -as is evident, would soon render the'knife dull, and wheneverthrough repeated sharpening of said knife' or blade the pointA thereof'though not essentially, I also employ a springpressed foot for holdingin place the envelop orl other article operated upon, so as to obviateany curling or warping tendency of the material of the article at pointsadjacent the cutting edges of the knife or blade, which, as is' evident,would' be likely to prevent a clean straightcut from being effected.Said presserfoot is also preferably removable or detachable, and it'willbe understood that the same is dispensed with in some instances, as whenthe deviceis employed solely for cutting articles of more than ordinarybulk or thickness. The knife or blade is preferably sharpeped so as f opresent both a forward and a rearward cutting edge, andthus can the-edgeofthe envelop or other article be severed when operated upon fromeithe'rdirection. -Other vpeculiarities vof construction and operation f willmore fully hereinafter appear; but it may be further added thatthecornplete device is 'preferably triade or constructed of vauch sizeas toybe conveniently carried in the pocket-,similarly to an ordinarypocket-knife,

'or the device can be constructed o'r adapted to form a part of many ofthe ordinary forms vof pocket-knives at present in use. On the otherhand, my improved device is of -itself also readily adapted for use as apart of the furniture of an ordinary writin `desk, and thus it becomes auseful article n oices of all kinds,or the device can also 1 beconveniently constructed in part with manyof the forms of paper-cutters,erasers, and other articles of desk furniture already in use.

Specific reference being4 had to the acco1n"\ jpanyiug drawings, whereinthe several-parts areslmwn somewhat enlarged', A represents my improvedknife olf-cutting devicepas a whole,-andf whl ch is .constructed ofanysuiti able material'. *',Prefer'ably form the device of a block orhandle a of some hard wood.;

which is of auyvdesired size and preferably without sharp or' angularedges or corners., vSaid'block or handle is formedvvith a base b,

amLforjts full length is constructed with a raised or elevated portionc, the width or thickness of which is about one-half the wldth of thesaid base b. -The upper surface of the baseis perfectly flat, as ip alsothe inner or vertical surface d of the said raised or elevated portionc, the two said surfaces being preferably at perfect right angles toeach other, so as to evenly guide the edge of an envelop or otherarticle when inserted in the device for the purpose of being severedor'cut olf. f" Secured to the' upper surface of the said raised orelevated portion c of the said block or handle by means of screws e orotherwise is a top plate f, which is of the same general shape anddimensions as the block a and which projects at one side beyond' theinner surface of the raised or elevated portion o, abovethe base b, andthus is-forrned a longitudinal aperture g. for the insertion of the edgeof the article to be operated upon. The

-thickness of the articles to be operated upon is onlylimited by theheight of said aperture, l

as is evident. The said top platef is formed or provided with alongitudinal opening or slot h, extending between points' 1 2, atsuitable distances from the ends thereof, andat one end of said slot oropening a reccss't is formed `in the upper surface of said top plate,the e'nds of said recess being entirely open, 'while the sides or walls`thereof are preferably slightly divergent or spread vapartoutwardlyat'm in. the direction of the end .of the said plate. Thus thesides orwalls of the said recess are inclined toward each other inwardly, andpreferably the said sides or lwalls are beveled at n to receive acorrespondingly constructed wedge'or tenon lo, formed at the outer endof a spring knife o'r cutter B, the arm p of which is snugly receivedbetween the sides or walls of the elongated slot or opening h of the topplate,- as shown. By thus form# vforni of the recess 'i and tenon oprevent the knife from being forced too far'in wardly,while the beveledsides of the two prevent the knife vfrom dropping out of place even oninverting Aalso constitutes a firm bearing or fulcrum for \the Idesiredworking action of the cuttingblade or knife, the ar-ln p of the latterhaving' preferably a beveled cuttrg edge u, (see Fig.

,) so as tooper'ate equally whether the edge `fthe device. Thesaiddescribed connection Y ofconstruction and arrangement.

'(rial v operated upong and for this purpose of the enveloporotherarticle is drawn through the device in one direction or theother. The said blade s is of a height slightly in excess of the heightof the longitudinal aperture g, so as to insure a complete cutting allthe way through the thickness of the article or matethe base of thedevice is-formed with a notch or recess w, receiving the pointed end ofthe blade, as shown more clearly in Fig/2. The said arm p of the knifeor cutter is formed-at its in ner end with a thumb or finger piece a',by which the blade` is pressed down to its work, and it is also formedat such end with a lug or stop a, which limits the downward movement ofthe blade by engaging or coniing into Contact with the edge 1 of thelongitudinal opening or slot hin the said top plate In this way thepoint of the blade is prevented from ever coming into contact with thebottom of notch w, and the said point t of the blade is therefore notlikely to soon become worn. If.however,l after repeated sharpening ofth'e blade the height of the same is so reduced as to prevent the point5t thereof from reaching down far enough, then this is remedied bysimply filing away a corresponding amount of the un'der surface of thelimitingr lug or stop u", whereupon the said point is permitted todescend to the same rextent as before. In this way the utility of thedevice is maintained for 4a very great length of time, as is evident. Asindicated at Figs. 2 and 6, it will be observed that the outer side ofthe blade is perfectly smooth or fiat, while at Fig. S it will befurther observed that. it is tne inner side only of the clade which isbeveled yor ground olf` to a cutting edge. The said onterside or face ofthe blade is flush or even with the corresponding side of the spring-armcarrying the saine, and inasmuch as the thickness of the blade is lessthan the width of said arm (see Fig. 6) it follows that a space is leftbetween the inner side of the blade and the vertical side d of theaperture g. Thus a gage is formed determining the extent or width of themargin ent olf or severed from the envelop, although of course it willbe understood that my invention is notlimited tothese precise detailsThe effect produced by the specific irm of blade referred to is that theinserted edge of an envelop is forced or drawn up more closely againstthevertical wall of the said aperture y, whereas if said blade were thusbeveled on both sides or on the outer side instead, the cifect wouldtend to be somewhat the oppo site and a perfectlystraight and-even cutwould probably not be derived. However, this feature of my invention isalso a minor one only and maybe followed in its exact details or not, asdesired. Of course it will also be understood that the sides of the sloth constitute a guide for the movable arm p, and hence the part severedfrom the envelop will .i

of my invention.

be the same width throughout the full length thereof.

Vtop plate f, and preferably directly beneath thewedge-shaped recess ttherein, I form or provide a similar tapering or wedge-shaped recessfi', (see Fi". 4,) the sides or walls of which are likewise beveled atfi", and in this said recess is received a correspondinglyshapedtenonz'r", formed at the end of acurved 'spring presser-foot C, see Fig.7,) in like manv ner as 'the tenon o of the spring-arm p of the knife orcutter is received in the recess i.

The outer end of said presser-foot is thus fur- .A

nisheda bearing or fulcrnm, and the pressen foot is also thus renderedeasily detachable or removable for any purpose whatever, while at thesaine time it is not likely to slip out of place accidentally. The saidpresser-foot is bent o r curved at y, so that a portion of the samerests flatly on the base b of the device, andat a suitable distance fromthe free end thereof the same is formed withslot or opening 3, locatedabove the notch w in the said base, and through which slot or opening 3the point if of the said blade s works, as shown. Said piesseifoot isobviously self-adjusting to different thicknesses of envelops or otherarticles.

It is of course obvious that the construction and operation of thepresser-foot and cutting-blade or knife 'can be altered in immaterialdegree without departing from the spirit It isI further obvious that thedetails of construction of the remaining elements or parts of myimproved device can also be similarly changed or altered.

To use or operate the device for cutting off the edge of a comparativelythin envelop, the said device is grasped so as to bring thesame betweenthe thumb and forefinger ofthe hand in such manner as to enable asufficient amount of pressure to be exerted upon the thumb-piece oftheknife orcutter,whereupon the edge of the envelop is properlyinserted inthe aperture g between the presser-foot and base and with the said edgeclose up against the straight vertical surface d of the raised orelevated portion c of the block a. (See Fig. 2.) In this way the envelopwill be evenlygnided, and all that is necessary then to be done is tosimply draw `the envelop against the edge of the knife in one directionorthc other, according to the manner'in which the same has beenintroduced, whereupon the edge of the latter will be severednr out offin an obvious manner. When anyarticle or envelop of increased thicknessis inserted, the inherent tension of the knife-arm is thus IOO IIO

correspondingly increased, and therefore less thumb-pressure is requiredthan in the case of a thin envelop, as. is evident. in Fig. 9, I amenabled to dispense with the presser-foot in some instances.-

It is apparent that my improved device is capable of a great manydifferent embodiments and also that the same can be made sufficientlysmall and ornamental to be conveniently worn upon the watch-chain in themanner of a charm 01 pendant therefor.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A knife orcntting device, comprising a block or handle having alongitudinal aperture in one side and a communicating slot in the topthereof, and a knife or blade workin g across said aperture and guidedin the slot, substantiallyv as described.

,2. A knife or cutting device, comprisinga block or handle havingv alongitudinal aperture in one side, and a slot'or opening inthe topthereof, and a knife or blade working through'said slot and across saidaperture, substantially as described.

3. A knife or cutting device, comprising a block or handle having a'longitudinal aperture and a longitudinal slot, and a springarm Workingin said slot and having a knife or blade working across said aperture.

4. A knife or cutting device,.co1nprising a block or handle having alongitudinal aperture in one side and a communicating slot in the topthereof, and a pointed knife or blade working across the aperture andguided in the slot, the base of said aperture having means forpreventing contact of the point of the knife therewith, substantially asdescribed.

5. A knife or cutting devicecomprising a block or handle having alongitudinal aperture and provided with a movable knife or blade workingacross said aperture and having double cutting edges and tapering toapoint, substantially as described.

6. A knife or cutting device, comprising a block or handle havingalongitudinal aperture, a movable knife or blade working across saidaperture, anda presser-foot bearing upon the base of the aperture,substantially as described.

7.l A knife or cutting device, comprising a block or handle having alongitudinal aperture, a movable knife or blade working across saidaperture and pointed at its lower end, the base of the aperture having arecess -for y receiving such pointed end,A substantially as described.

8. A knife'or cutting device, comprising a block or handle having alongitudinal aper-l ture, the base whereof is formedwith arecess, amovable knife or blade working across said aperture and tapering to apoint, and a presser-foot bearing upon the said base and having a slotor opening communicating with i the said recess,"l substantiallyasdescribed.

As shown 9. A knife or cutting device, comprising a' block or handlehaving a longitudinal aperture, and a movable spring-arm having athumb-piece, and provided with aknife or blade workingacrossthe'aperture,said thumbpiece constituting a stop for limiting the inwardor downward Amovement o f the knife, and'also the medium through whichcompensation for .wear of the knife is effected, 'substantiallyasdescribed.-

10. A knife or cutting device, comprising a block having a longitudinalaperture, and a movable spring-arm having a knife or bladeworkingacrosssaid aperture, said arm having a stop limiting the movementof the knife or blade in one direction, and said'stop constituting athumb-piece for operating the arm, substantially as described'.

11. A knife or cuttingdevlce, comprising a block or handle having alongitudinal aper- 4ture and a longitudinal slot, and amovablespring-arm working in said slta'nd having a knife or blade workingacross said aperture, said arm having a stop abutting th'e block at oneend of the slot, substantially as described.

12. A knife or cutting device, comprising a block or handle having alongitudinal apen-- ture, amovable spring-arm having athumbpiece,together with a movable knife or blade working across said aperture,said arm also having a stop limiting the downward Inovementof the blade,and a presser-foot resting on the base of said aperture, substantiallyas described. i

13. A knife or cutting device, com,prising the block or handlehavingthe'base and the raised or elevated' portion, the top platesecured to said portion' and extending over the base, said plate havinga longitudinal slot, and a spring-arm working through said slot,

and having at its free end a knifeor cuttingblade working across thespace between the said top plate and base, substantially as de'-scribed.

14.. A knife or cutting device, comprising the block or handle havingthe raised portion and the base provided with the recess, the

' top plate secured to said raised portion and extending over the base,said plate havinga longitudinal slot, a spring-arm working through saidslot and carrying a knife or blade work- -ing across the space betweenthe base and top plate, and a presser-foot bearing upon said base andhaving a slot for the passage of the IIO end of the blade, substantiallyas described.

15. A knife or cutting device, comprising the block or handle having thelongitudinal aperture, the top plate having the slot and formed .at one-end with the tapering dovetailed recess '5, and the spring-arm having atenen correspondingly shaped and fitting s'aid recess and .carryinga-knife or blade working across said aperture, substantially asdescribed.v 4

16. Aknife or cutting device, comprising the block or handle having thelongitudinal aaiperture,thel top plate havingthe slot and' formed at oneend on the under side thereof with ataperng dovetaiied recess, thespringarm working in said slot and carrying a knife or' blade workingacrdssithe said aperture, and a presser-foot bearing upon the baseof theaperture and formed at one end with a 'correspondingly-shaped tennfitting said re- Vcess, substantially asdescribed.

17. -A knife or cutting device, comprising the block Or handle havingthe longitudinal aperture, the top plate having the slot and formed atone end on both the upper and lower surfaces thereof with a taperingdoveailed recess, the' spring-arm working in said slot and carrying aknife or blade Workingv across the said aperture, said arm having atenon of correspondingshape tothe upper recess and tting therein, and apresser-foot bearing upon the base of said .aperture and also formed atone end with a tenen of corre spending shape to said lower recess andfitting therein, substantially as described.

18. A knife or cutting device, comprising a blockor handle having alongitudinal apering dovetailed recess, a spring-arm working in the slotand having a knife or blade work' ing across the aperture, and aremovable presser-foot bearing upon the base of the aperture and formedat one end with a jtenon shaped to fit said recess, substantially asdescribed.

20. A knife or cutting device, comprising a block or'handle having alongitudinal aperv ture and a longitudinal slot, and an arm working insaid slot having a knife or blade working across the aperture, the Outerside of said knife being smooth or flat, and the inner side thereofbeveled to a cutting edge disposed a suitable distance from the verticalside of said aperture, substantially as shown and described. c

2l. Afknife or cutting device, comprising a block Or handle having alongitudinal aperture and a iongitudinal slot, and a movable arm guidedin said slot and having a knife or blade workin g across the aperture,the said knife being less in thickness than the width of the arm,andhaving its outer side dat and ush with the corresponding side of the armand the inner side thereof beveled to a cutting edge, substantially asshown and for the purpose described.

. n testimony whereof l ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE G. AYnA.

Witnesses:

E. A. HOUSTON, JOHN A. WILSON. y

